File for cards and the like.



L. A. LEBOWIGH.

FILE FOR CARDS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20, 1914.

1,123,326. Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

THE NO'RRIS PETERS CO.. PHOTO'LITHO WASHINGTON. By C,

drawer.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS AARON LEBOWICH, 0F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

FILE FOR CARDS AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

Application filed March 20, 1914. Serial No. 826,100.

the like, of which the following is a specifi cation.

My invention relates to files for cards and the like and it has for its object to improve the construction of the card holding means with which articles of this kind are usually provided.

In my improved file the means for holding or supporting the cards or the like consists of a follower slidably mounted upon a rail connected with the frame or base of the file which may be in the form of a box or On the follower is mounted a looking lever that is preferably pivoted so as to swing up and down in a plane parallel with the cards or the like, and this lever cooperates, either directly or indirectly, with the rail so that when swung into its lowermost position it locks the follower to the rail and when swung into its uppermost position the follower is freed from the rail and can be adjusted lengthwise of the latter. The advantages to this construction are that the follower can be made comparatively thin so that it does not appreciably detract from the capacity of the file, and by arranging the lever to swing in the manner described not only is space economized but said lever may be constructed so that when occupying its unlocked position its upper end can be used as a handle with which to manipulate the follower, while its downward movement, when shifted into its locked position, may be such as to lower its upper end into an outof-the-way position so that said end does not project materially above the level of the cards or the like.

Other features of my invention are hereinafter pointed out.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a file constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a section on a larger scale taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section on line44 of F ig. 2. Figs. 5 and 6 are, respectively, face and side views of the spring locking plate hereinafter described.

Having reference to the drawings, 1 represents a box shaped container which may be one of the drawers of a cabinet. The bottom or base 2 of container 1 is made upon its top inner side with a longitudinal groove 3 within which is arranged a rectangular or round metal rail 4 on which is slidably mounted a follower 5. The rail 4 may be fastened at its ends to the end walls 6, 6 of container 1 by screws or the like.

The follower 5 comprises a body made from a single piece of sheet metal folded upon itself at its top so as to form two vertical parallel walls 7 and 8, the wall 7 being bent laterally at its lower end so as to provide a base 9 which seats upon the top of rail 4; The base 9 is provided at one end with a downwardly extending tongue 10 formed with a rectangular aperture 11 through which the rail 4 extends, while the lower end of wall 8 projects below the rail and is provided with a rectangular aperture 112 through which said rail 4: also extends. In this way the follower is slidably mounted upon the rail so that it cannot become detached while in use and cannot swing sidewise on said rail. I

Between the two walls 7 and 8 is arranged a spring clutch plate 12 bearing near its lower edge upon the rail 4 and having its upper edge cooperatively arranged with relation to the cam shaped hub 13 of a clutch operating lever 1% also arranged between the two walls 7 and 8 and pivotally connected therewith by means of a rivet 15. The folded top edges of the walls 7 and 8 are cut away as at 16, Fig. 2, to make a slot 17 at the top of the two walls through which the free end of lever 14 extends to the exterior of the follower so that it is accessible for manipulation. This lever 14 is a thin metal bar and does not add materially to the thickness of the fol-lower.

The wall 7 is provided at its sides with diagonal sockets 18 which embrace the ends of an upwardly extending wire bow or bail 19 whose exposed middle portion and ends give to the follower the desired area or size.

The clutch plate 12 is preferably made from hard spring steel and is cut and bent so as to provide a ledge 20 at its top end that is engaged by the lever 14: and an endwise' yielding tongue 21 at its lower end to rest upon the top of rail 4:, said tongue being disposed between two arms 22 which embrace the rail 4. Near their junction with the body of plate 12 the arms 22 curve inwardly as at 222 and these curved portions 222 cooperate with the two upper corners of the rail 4 so that when plate 12' is forced downward by lever 14: the opposed curved edges 222 bite onto said corners and thereby firmly clutch the rail and hold the follower against movemen't. Near itsupper end plate 12 is made with a vertical slot 23 into which projects a lug 24: bent inwardly from the wall 7. The engagement of' the arms22 with raill. and the engagement of the lug 24 withthe slot 23 maintain the clutch plate 12 in position with provision for limited movement towardand fromfsaid raiL' When lever 14, occupies. the position shownin full lines in Fig. 2. the tongue .21 of clutch plate 12 supports, the latter so' that thecurve'd parts 222 areout-oflocking engagementwith rail 4 and theflfollower is.

free shiftedon the latter, but when lever-J14: is swung down 'intothe position shown by. dotted lines-in said figure, the

i .cam portion 13 thereof forcesplate 12 downwardagainst the yielding resistance 'of spring, tongue 21 causing the portions. 222: to. grip the upper corners of the rail and lock the follower against movementon the rail.- The tongue 21 is ofisets'lightl-y from th e'body. of plate 12v as shown at "25 so that saidplate will be yielding under the pressure. of lever 14.

Aswill-be clear the lever 14 normally occupies a depressed position where it is out of the way and when swung upwardly. in a plane crosswise of the rail 4 to unlock the follower, the free end of the lever is brought.

into a position above the latter and. the contents of the file so that it can be used as, a handle by means of which to shift the fol.- lower, on the rail. Also, by. arranging the lever 14;- so that it swings in a plane cross.-

wiseof the rail, and by. constructing the body of the follower as described, practically the whole. of the interior of the container may be used for the cards or. the like.

What I claim is: 1. A file, comprising. a base; a 'railconnected with said base; a follower; slidably.

connected with said rail; a clutch plate of spring metal slidably mounted on. the follower and' adapted to engage the rail edgewise to lock the follower against movement on the rail, and a cam lever for operating said clutch plate. r

2. A file comprising a base; a rail connected with said base; a follower slida'bly connected with, said rail having a. bodyl com? prising two. adjacent walls; a clutch member arranged between the two. walls of. said follower body, and movable. toward and am t nt m mhq te nsditqt lowerfbody and movable toward and; from the-rail, and a lever for operating said member; said' lever being pivotally. mount-5 ed between the two. follower walls 'so as to swing up and down in aiplanecrosswise, of therail and having its free end extending beyond said walls so as tofb'e used as handle.

'4. Av-file comprising, a base;--a. rail connected with :saidbase; a follower slidably' connected "with "said rail having a sheet metalbody. comprising. two adjac'ent walls each providedv at its lower end with an aperture through which the 'rail extends, and a leverffor. locking. the follower to .therail;

said lever beingspivotally mounted between;

said walls; so as; toswirig up. and downinaplane. crosswise of the rail and having. itsfree endextending' beyond .said walls.

5. A file comprising. a base; anrail connected with *saidbase; afollower sliokably; connected with" said rail having a sheet. metal body. 7 comprising two, adjacent. walls;

each provided atitslower end with an ap;

erture through which the. rail extends, and a wire, bail mounted in sockets at the-sides ofsaid body and a leverpivotally mounted on the follower for. locking. the-latter. to; the

rail.

6. A file comprising-a base; a rail con nected withfsaid base; a followerv slidably connected with said rail-having a one-piece;

sheet'metal body. comprising two adjacent.

walls each providedati its lower end. with. an aperture. through, which the. rail extends;

aj' spring clutch plate, movably. mounted; on;

the follower between-said walls and;{engag ing the rail edgewise a .wire, bail mounted in sockets at the sides ofthejbody; and a cam lever. for, operating said plate, said Y lever .beingtpivotally. mounted on the follower,

between said walls so as to swing. up and; down in a plane crosswise of: the rail, and having its free end extendingbeyond said walls so as to serve as a handle,

In testimony whereof; I have. afiixe'd my signature, in presence ofitwow tnessea LOUIS A RQ r Witnesses;

MAm'r E. ,Mln'ron, ERNns'rJH. @IoH son;

Washington, D 0. 

